Pros and Cons of Using Aloe Vera Gel as Lube — Plus an Alternative You Must Try

Imagine this: you’re getting frisky in bed and are ready to start pumping. Before you do, you reach out for your jar of lube (because you’re a good boy or girl and know that lube is a must-have for naughty deeds). But the jar is empty! What do you do now?

Like many people, you might eye that bottle of aloe vera gel that’s standing on your bedside table. Sure, you’ve used it lots of times to treat sunburn and chapped skin, but can you use it to make your sexy adventures wetter and wilder?

PROS AND CONS

A lot of people swear by aloe vera gel as a personal lubricant, with some saying that they won’t consider using any other lube. But, just like with any other product, using aloe vera gel as a lube comes with both pros and cons, and you need to weigh them carefully before you start smearing the gel on your intimate bits.

Here are some of the advantages and disadvantages you need to know:

Pros

It’s cheap

Different aloe vera gel brands have different prices, but the average 24-ounce bottle sells at around $8. Even if you have sex every day (or multiple times a day), the bottle should still last you for a month or more. Whether you’re on a tight budget or just want to spend less, it’s a pretty sweet deal.

It’s easily available

If you already have a bottle of aloe vera gel at home, you’re already good to go! (Just make sure to check the expiry date.) Even if you run out of it, you can simply make a quick trip to the grocery or drugstore and buy another bottle.

It’s water-based

One of the biggest no-nos in the condom world is using a latex condom with an oil-based lubricant. The lube will destroy the condom, rendering it useless and increasing your risk of getting pregnant or being infected with an STI. Fortunately, most aloe vera gels are water-based, so there’s no need to worry about condom breakage.

Cons

It can be too sticky

Depending on the brand of aloe vera gel you use, it might be too thick and gluey for your liking. This can make your sexy times less fun since you’ll be stuck with a lube that’s sticky and icky and prevents you from gliding and sliding.

It might contain other ingredients

If you’re concerned about chemicals and preservatives, take a look at the label on the bottle to find out what’s inside your aloe vera gel. Despite declaring themselves as “pure aloe vera gel”, many brands contain other ingredients like tetrasodium EDTA, diazolidinyl urea, and DDM hydrantoin.

They’re not exactly harmful, but the fact that you’re putting these chemicals on your intimate areas might not make you happy, especially if you’re trying to limit your exposure or artificial substances.

The worse part: some gels contain alcohol, which can irritate the vagina and cause a painful, burning sensation and other effects.

It might cause an allergic reaction

A lot of people are allergic to aloe vera. Even if you’re not, you might still react to the other ingredients found in the gel. To ensure you won’t get an allergic reaction, it’s best to do an allergy test before using the aloe vera gel as a lubricant.

Take a small dollop of the gel, rub it on the inside of your elbow, and wait for a few hours to see if redness, itching, and other signs of irritation appear.

It’s usually formulated for external use

Many aloe vera gels have a label that says they’re for external use only. It’s best to avoid these products if you have a vagina or if you have sensitive skin on your penis.

AN ALTERNATIVE TO ALOE VERA GEL

What if you want to avoid the chemicals found in aloe vera gel or find it too sticky for your liking, but you still want to enjoy the natural properties of aloe vera? Well, here’s some good news: you can use an aloe vera-based lubricant!

This product uses aloe vera as its main ingredient but, unlike aloe vera gels, it’s specially formulated to be used as a personal lubricant. As a result, you won’t have any worries when you use it for your naughty adventures since you know it’s designed to be used that way!